Fwd: UTA - CT

Sorry this so late in arriving to your inboxes. We went to Idaho Falls to witness the totality of the eclipse and it did not disappoint!! Before you die, you need to see a full solar eclipse!!! Luckily, in just 25 short years, there will be one in Salt Lake City! Jarod has been transferred to Capetown. Enjoy his cute letter!!!

Well. This week was definitely one I won't forget! It has gone from being in the bush of Africa to the streets of Cape Town, and to say the least, they are completely different. Mthatha is a place where everyone speaks xhosa, loves to talk about Jesus, and is very welcoming to have us come in. And Cape Town, has white people, something I have never experienced, coloured people, Afrikaans, just a little experience, and everything in between. We are teaching people from DRC, ZIM, SA, and it really is eye opening and amazing! 

The people here are amazing as ever, and the love for the gospel is the same! But it is a different feel. I'm really excited to go and teach more people, and our zone has some amazing elders and we have awesome goals. When you hear cape town.. you're like eh I don't wanna be transferred there. But we are hoping to change that up! We are setting huge goals and are excited to change the face of western cape.

Already we are seeing miracles. We have amazing father led families, potential priesthood holders, and are excited to find and teach more. The faith is up, and will keep getting stronger! 

Some sweet stories are a guy named Raegen. He was taught for 9 years in DRC. and now moved here about 2 weeks ago, realized the church was here. and said okay.. Its time. He has moved all around DRC, and the church would always find him! And here, when he found it, he said it has to be true. 9 years of missionaries working with him, helping him, and God preparing him. No effort is wasted! I love it! 

Another is a brother named Leonard. He was taught and found about 9 months ago... by Elder McCarroll! He got in an accident and disappeared a while ago, and now is back! He had troubles getting baptized a while ago because he needed marriage documents. Last week his wife from Zim moved here, with the documents, and she wants to be baptized!! The Lord has prepared these people so well! We are so excited to continue working hard and finding more!

Im excited to work hard and see God's hand in this work. I'm so thankful for the love of all of you and the support. Heavenly Father has amazing plans for Cape Town. and we are gonna do it!

Love you all, 

Elder Ivins

Bye bye

Well... What and emotional week. On Saturday we got the call that I will be leaving Mthatha, and will be transferred to Capetown! I will be in the Bellville and Brackenfell wards. My new comp is Elder Slade... He recently served with elder Hawkins! So that's cool. I don't know much about him.. so Im excited to get to know him!

As I was reflecting on my time in Mthatha I have truly been able to see the Lords hand in this work. In protecting us, guiding us, and allowing us to find and see so many people change to follow God's path for them. I love it! I will always have a special place in my heart for this part of God's vineyard, and cannot wait until the day I come back. Hopefully while still on mission. Very blessed to have served in 2 areas for almost a year! As I bore my departing testimony, I truly felt Heavenly Fathers Love for these people. It's amazing. Im an imperfect misisonary, giving 2 years to love people. And He is a perfect God, just imagine the love he has for us. 

This week was amazing. Something really cool, was seeing Shaun compete at a science fair! It was so cool. His project was on Science mixed with drama! He did really well and will be competing again for a chance to go to joburg! We met some cool new people, who we really think are ready for the gospel. They are pretty interesting guys, Ivan and Assive, going off how Christ died for us, and only the circumcised will be saved... Then the friend calls him out, on how the circumcised of heart... It was just really funny. But they really wanted to learn more about the BOM. It was sweet!

Esethu and her mom are doing well! Nombulelo had to work so she couldnt come to church, but Esethu came again and loved it! She asked us to move her baptism forward. How amazing is that! It was so sweet! Im excited to hear about her baptism in a couple weeks. Busisiwe wasn't able to be baptised this week, but next week is now set! hahah it was been a process but she is ready! She just wants to be baptised, and was sad it didn't work out yesterday, but its all good.

These past couple days have been spent printing loads of pictures, eating good food, and today will cap it all off. Tomorrow we will be going to EL and Wednesday morning flying to CPT.

Yho it is all just flying by, and everyday this week felt like a blur. I din't want it to happen, but the Lord says otherwise. Thank you all for the Love and support. It is amazing what blessings I feel and see thanks to you! I can't wait to get to Capetown and start working. 

Elder Hawkins and I set a goal for sept 24, to have another 10 baptisms in each area. Him in EL, and me in CPT. We are getting the areas in Mthatha down for it, and hopefully the areas in our zones. We want a 10 by, or a 10 squared. idk. but it will be 10 areas with 10 baptisms.

It seems crazy, and a whole lot of work, but WHY LIMIT GOD? We can do it! He will do it! We will be praying everyday for this goal, fasting, specifically for families. FATHER LED.

GOD SPEED to ALL

Mdala Ivins

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Home sweet home

Hello everyone!!

What an amazing week it was!

It started with a fun tour of the Mandela museum here in town. it was really fun to learn a lot more about him. He started a militia revoltation,  led in prison, and overall was just a yomie.

Busisiwe didn't get baptised this week, she had some things come up, but will be baptised next week so thats all good. When she called us, telling us that she wanted to postpone, my heart dropped. I was very worried that something went wrong, but we spoke with her later and worked it all out, and she is set for next week, which may be my last sunday in Mthatha... (pray to stay).

I think the highlight of the week would be Fast Sunday yesterday. Kk and Anna both were confirmed and then gave amazing testimonies. They were quoting scripture, sharing stories, and everyone was laughing. Bongiswa also bore an amazing testimony speaking about how she wasnt able to come to church, but through many prayers in the night, and amazing faith was able to come. It really inspires me every week to feel the love that the people here have for God, and the trust they have in His promises. The Lord will always provide. 

Something really funny happened on exchanges in Queentsown this week.... It was a really fun day. Lots of walking, but lots of fun with Elder Shaw (eagle ID).. And we went to finish the day at this really amazing restaraunt. While we walked in there was a bike race on the tv. It looked really cool and i wondered where it was cuz i knew the tour de france had finished the week prior. Anyways as i was watching i said to elder shaw, "Man that looks so familiar, I feel like i have been there before!"

Next thing I see, is the banners for the TOUR OF UTAH!!! Stage 3, up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I was freaking out! Heck yeah Elder Shaw I have been there before!! It was so funny that in the middle of South Africa in this random restaraunt I was seeing the rodes I had driven and ridden and mountains Ive skied and climbed so much. CRAZY!

It was really fun to see home sweet home. But Im blessed with the a home here. Grateful for an amazing family where anywhere we go is home. the cabin, lake powell, mcdonalds, the boat, anything. I have the best family!!

Love you all!

Elder Ivins

Mthatha Mthatha!

Hey! This week was fantastic! 

It may be coming to an end in mthatha... or there may be more to come. Pres Lebethoa wouldnt give up anything on tuesday when we saw him... hahha

In our interview it didn't come up but it was so fun to get to know him better. We talked a lot about goal setting and working hard. It reminds me of Elder Ballards last conference talk where he spoke about a goal is where we want to be and the path is the steps to get there. It was really awesome.

We spent a lot of this week preparing for KK and Anna's baptisms! The Watsons came to mthatha! It was a wonderful reunion with them! We had a nice lunch and caught up. Then he was able to int. KK. She was so excited to be fully ready for baptism. She and Anna were both champs this week in the bitter water, but their smiles and Spirit were much greater to see. They werent worried about the water, just excited to be making sacred covenants with God. It has been amazing to see them change so much in these past couple months. The Lord has lead us in both circumstances to find these wonderful sisters! It is amazing! We are excited for their third friend Busisiwe to be baptised this week and join them as our new recent converts!!

We went and had dinner with them. We cooked burgers with KK (something she has wanted us to make for her since we met..) and had a huge braii with Anna and her family. It was so much fun to celebrate for these two!

Exchanges with Elder Zander were quite fun... it included too many fun experiences ranging for eating chicken head... to riding stray donkeys.. to meeting amazing people that came to church on sunday.. having our fellowshipper pee is pants.... hahahaha It was just really fun.

We taught lots of good lessons too.. haha. They have been walking as their car is broken.. but none the less we met amazing people. The gospel is true

I love being on mission and this week was another great reason to be here. The lord is providing and blessing Mthatha. As Im reading in 3 Nephi it is sad to see the Pride of the people lead to wars, death, and separation. Stay humble and the Lord will bless us. LOVE YOU ALL.

Enjoy the Cabin, ski a lot, bike too. I recommend the bakery in Stanley for breakfast for the yomies sleeping at the end of the lake.

Elder Ivins 

Fwd: Happy Birthday Mandela!

From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 4:42 AM

Hello!!

This week was another amazing week. Lots of good work, lots of great people, lots of food!

Tuesday, everyone was feeling better... so it was a perfect time to celebrate for the birthday of the one and only: NELSON MANDELA. Mthatha is the closest big city to where he was born. He is from a small village about 30 km's outside mthatha named Qunu. We thought about going out there, for a huge celebration, but decided not too. They closed down the main street in Mthatha next to the Mandela Museum, and had a big party, so we thought that that would be good enough. There were things played on the tv all day about him, so it was really fun! It is crazy they impact that he had on everyone here.

The rest of the week was as normal. Shaun is doing amazing as our newest rc. He recieved the Holy Ghost yesterday, and gave an amazing testimony in church. He is so ready for the priesthood and really wants to serve mission after he finishes school next year! KK is set to be interviewed this week by Elder Watson! Im so excited to see them again, and then Anna will be interviewed this week as well. So we should have a wonderful baptism next week for the both of them! 

Our investigator Busisiwe is so amazing. We have run out of things to teach her. Hahaha. She downloaded the gospel library app.. and yeah.. just reads everything! We try to go teach Law of chastity... "oh i read that one.." so we say okay Word of wisdom.. "oh yeah I know that one too!" okay temples. she wont know it.. "I saw this temple magazine at church. Im so excited for the temple trip in december. My mom is late and i can be baptised for her..."

LIKE come on!!! hahaha it is so amazing! The best quote she said though was "Your church is just so exciting!" It made me really happy to see how bright and happy her life is becoming in just a short couple weeks.

Mthatha is really doin amazing, but satan is trying as well. I've been reading a lot in Helaman, about the Gadianton robbers, and all these apostate people. So be strong!! Dont let satan get a stretch on us!

I love you all so much! I love mission! It is going by so fast, and everyday is better and better. The people, the food, the spiritual experiences everyday make me so thankful that I am here serving the Lord. 

Love, Elder Ivins

Fwd: Good Morning!!

Super short letter from Jarod this week. He went to the internet cafe this morning and there was no internet so they went to Port St. John's for a fun day. )Google it. It is amazing. He specifically talked about the blow hole and the airstrip. I googled both and wow, so pretty.) Afterward, they went back to the internet cafe and there was internet, but he only had a few minutes. He left his camera in the car so didn't send any pictures. He hit his 10 month mark last week and is getting a new Mission President next week. He is so happy, which makes me so happy!! Elder Ivins was born to be a missionary and he is soaking up every minute!! Enjoy your week and share love and joy with those you meet - in honor of Jarod!!!

xo-Robyn

Hello! What a great week it was! Very busy, hard working and fun fun fun.

We had appointments after appointments, and bang bang bang it all led up to one of the best Sundays on mission! 

We are out of time now, but here is a little on the week.

One of the highlights this week was the ysa activity on Saturday. We had a bunch of investigators come, which made it soo much better.They loved it! We played games all day and lunch, more games, scavenger hunts, a sweet braii, and a nice dinner. It really boosted the investigators to make these amazing friendships. A lot of the ysa are schooling in other areas of S.A. so when they are all here it is just so fun! It is kinda like entering winter break here. Which is awesome, a lot of people are home all day, so we can see a lot of people, and meet tons of new people! But the same goes the other way and a lot of people go back to their villages to be with family. so we will see how the teaching goes. I'm excited to be working with the branch and meeting new families! 

One cool experience is being guided by the spirit to a mall for lunch this week, where we bumped into a family who has lived in Mthatha for about 10 months, and not known where the church is! It was a miracle. They were willing to drive 3 hours to get to the nearest church. We have met with them twice this week, and they have an amazing niece that isn't a member who stays with them , Anna. We have been teaching her, and she is sooo ready. We love it!

We are excited for a great week this week! I love you all and sorry for the short email....

Next week will be better. 

Love, Elder Ivins!

Fwd: SHELEMBE

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>

Wow. Just like that, my coloured comp was gone, and my black son was born.

EL was a bitter sweet moment. Saying goodbye and the end to the district, enjoying last moments, eating good food, reuniting with the first born in the bush (hawkins), seeing good friends, getting puked on, eating lots of good food unavailable in mthatha, mini golfin, aston martins, more food.

Yeah it was awesome. A really fun experience was meeting my new son, Elder Shelembe. It was a nice meeting, where Elder Gibbons and myself switched tags, so for a good 10 min, He had no clue and thought they were comps. It was hilarious, and just fun. He is such a good guy. He is from Johannesburg, and was born a member. He really connects with the people, and makes teaching the gospel so fun. A cool experience was to be with him and elder Hawkins in EL for the night. We went on exchanges and got to be in a tri comp with them. It brought a lot of happiness to me to be teaching with both, so much power from them. I'm so blessed! 

But the first week has been great. He is really adapting to mission, and hastn had any problems. We are getting to work hard, and had an amazing first sunday. KK is doing great and brought her friend to church, and shaun is more and more powerful everyday. I love it!!!

With the members, we planned a couple of pranks for Elder Shelembe, but unfortunately, they fell through. Planned to fake as investigators, pull some weapons, argue. Apparently Pres Boateng did it a while ago, and it made an elder cry all night and FREAK out! hahha im really sad it didnt work, but its all good. They did little things to me while I came, but its just a fun time!

Yesterday we met Lisekhona and Aviwe's (recent converts)  cousin, Siziphiwe, and had an amazing lesson with her. She said at the end after a prayer, that she has always felt so alone and lost, and didn't know why. We opened to scripture where the Savior Jesus Christ was performing the Atonement and said, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" We told her she is not the first to feel alone. It was so powerful as she began to be silent and weep. This is one of the most powerful lessons for me, because a lot of the times, we use good scriptures for the spirit in lessons, but this one was more solemn and personal, about being alone, and that because Jesus Christ suffered for us, we are never alone. It hit me very hard as well as her. And I felt the spirit testify to me it is true. We committed her to be baptised, and to receive the Holy Ghost. Leaving her NEVER alone.

I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, in allowing us to be able to be perfect again, and to have the redeeming power through Him. I testify that HE LIVES. He stands today on the right hand of God. He is the Living Christ. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life, and eternal happiness in the world to come. I am personally grateful to God, for the gift of his son.  

I love you all so much! Work hard, be good, and share the gospel.

Elder Ivins